Sliding-door opener and closer.



S. R. STROM & C. W. MOURER.

SLIDING DOOR OPENER AND CLOSER.

APPLICATION FILED Aue.14. 1915.

1 ,241 ,300. Patented Sept. 25, 1917.

2 SHEET$SHEET l.

S. R. STROM & C. W. MUURER. SLIDING DOOR OPENER AND CLOSER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 14. 1915.

1 ,241 ,300, Patented Sept. 25, 1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

SWAN R, STROM AND CHARLES W. MOUBER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SLIDING-DOOR OPENER AND CLOSER.

Specification of'Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 25, 1917.

Application filed August 14, 1915. Serial No. 45,450.

To all whom it may concern:

, Be it known that we, SWAN R. STROM a subject of the King of Sweden, who has eclared his intention of becoming a citizen of the United States, andCHARLEsW. MOURER, a citizen of the United States, and residents of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sliding-Door Openers and Closers, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvement: in sliding door openers and closers, the obj ct of the invention being to provide a simple and eflicient construction for effecting the initial opening of the sliding door, such as a freight car door, and the tight closing and locking of the same.

The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which,

Figure 1 is a face view of a construction embodying our invention, shown in looking position,

Fig. 2, a similar view shown in opening positlon,

Fig. 3, an enlarged fragmentary view of the upper portion of an operating lever and its associated parts employed in the construction,

Fig. 4, a vertical section through the operating lever,

Fig. 5, a horizontal section taken through the car door, showing the closing and opening construction in top plan view,

Fig. 6, a horizontal section taken through the1 lower portion of the operating lever, an

Figll, a horizontal section taken through a 100 g finger and eye employed in the construction.

The preferred form of construction, as illustrated in the drawings, comprises a sliding car door 8 slidable in the usual door frame in the car 9 in the usual manner. A manipulating lever 10 is pivoted at 11 to the door frame or the side of the car immediately adjacent the door frame and is provided on its side away from the door with a laterally and outwardly offset lug 12 carrying a pivot stud 13 having a slight head 14. A link 15 is provided at one end with a perforation adapted to pass over stud 13 and at its other end is pivotally connected with a strap 16 secured to the outer side of the car door. The arrangement is such, as will be observed, that by manipulating the lever 10 initial movement of the door 8 or final closing movement of the same may be forcibly effected by means of lever 10. The stud 13 is so located relatively to the pivot 11 that in closing door 8, the stud 13 swings downwardly past a line connecting strap 16 with pivot point 11, or across the dead center, thus automatically locking the door in closed position so as to prevent opening of the door without manipulation of the lever,

10. After the initial opening of the door is thus effected the link 15 is disengaged from stud 13 and the door completely opened .by

hand. In closing the door, the door is aland the final closing of the door forcibly efiected by manipulating lever 10. Owing to accumulations of dust or other matter in the guides for a sliding door, and es ecially a sliding car door, it is'often di cult to effect the final closing or initial opening thereof, and this construction furnishes a simple, convenient and powerful means for effecting these operations.

At its upper end, lever 10 is provided with an outwardly and an upwardly projecting jaw member 17 arranged to embrace link 15 when the door is closed, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4. Jaw 17 is provided at its upper edge with an outwardly extend- .ing flange 18 which inturn is provided at its end adjacent the door with an upwardly extended portion 19 thus effecting a looking socket adapted to receive an outwardly extending lug 20 formed on the link 15, as indicated in Fig. 3. Lug 20 and flange 18 are provided with registering openings 21 and 22 respectively, adapted to receive a car seal if desired. Bythis arrangement, it will be observed, that when the door is drawn to closed position, the link 15 automatically passes within the jaw 17 and the lug 20 within the socket 1819 thus effecting an interlocking action between the link and lever which prevents disengagement of the link from the lever when the parts are in closing position. 7

A locking head 23 is slidably mounted on lever 10 adjacent its lower end, being secured in position thereon by means of a rivet 24 passing through a slot 25 provided in said lever. The locking head 23 is provided with a laterally extending arm 26 carrying adownwardly extending locking finger 27 adapted to engage with an eye 28 secured to the door frame. The finger '27 and the eye 28 are with registering perforations, as indicated in Fig. 7, which permit the passage of a car seal 29,thus effectually sealing the lever 10 against manipulation and consequently the car door against surreptitious opening. To facilitate manipulations of lever 10, the lower end thereof is outwardly oflset to form a handle portion 30, as indicated in Fig. 4.

While'we have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying our invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification Without departing from the spirit of the invention. We, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail ourselves of such variations andmodifications as come within the scope of the'appended claims.-

Having described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a'sliding door and a'frame therefor, of a lever pivoted to said frame; a link pivoted to said door and detachably connected with said lever cooperating with said lever to serve as a means for performing the initial opening and final closing of said door; and automatic interlocking means on said link and lever arranged to engage and prevent detachment of said link when said door is in closed position, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a sliding door rovided' and a frame therefor, of a lever pivoted to said frame; a stud on said lever; a link detachably connected with said stud and pivotallytconnected with said door, said link and lever being arranged to effect initial opening and final closing of said door; an

outwardly and upwardly offset jaw on said lever arranged to embrace said link when said door is closed; and an outwardly extending lug on said link arranged to engage said jaw, said lug and jaw being perforated for the passage of a seal, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a sliding doorand a frame therefor, of a lever pivoted to said frame; a stud on said lever; a link detachably connected with said stud and pivotally connected with said door, said link and-lever being arranged to effect initial opening and final closing of said door; an outwardly and upwardly offset jaw on said lever arranged to embrace said link when said door is closed; an outwardly extending lug on said link arranged to engage said jaw, said lug and jaw being perforated for the passage of a seal; a locking head slidably 

